(Newser)
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The US is charging ahead with an $11 billion arms deal with Iraq, and has even delivered some of the promised fighter jets, tanks, and weapons—even though Nouri al-Maliki has blatantly failed to follow through on an agreement intended to ensure he would not marginalize his Sunni rivals. Indeed, Maliki has moved aggressively to cement his power since the US left Iraq, leading some diplomats to express concern about the sale, the New York Times reports.

Many fear that Iraq’s army is turning into a Shiite force—it is dominated by Shiite militias, and units have reportedly been flying Shiite flags instead of Iraqi ones. “It is very risky to arm a sectarian army,” says the country’s finance minister, a Sunni. “The result will be a formal militia army.” The Pentagon says it’s trying to help Iraq defend against “foreign security threats.” But there’s a risk Maliki could ally himself with Iran—the “foreign threat” Washington likely had in mind. (Read more Nouri al-Maliki stories.)

They will end up in the hands of the Iranians. Iran is Iraq's best butt buddy now. Bring on the virgins. Did the ATF set this deal up? Get all American military out of Iraq permanently. They will fuck us over the minute they feel they can do it without being carbonized by the drones flying 60,000 over their heads.

finkster

Dec 29, 2011 11:57 AM CST

It all boils down to money and power....a lethal combination. The MIC only cares about the 11 billion in profit and the hell with the stability of Iraq The Shiite's only care about power and destroying the Sunnis

Watching4theMODS

Dec 29, 2011 11:32 AM CST

I posted this to a story about US Hawking F-15s to Saudis just a few minutes ago. It fits just fine here. http://www.newser.com/story/136409/us-hawking-f-15s-to-saudis.html "We get screwed at the pump so these nations can buy our arms. That has been going on for almost 40 years now. This is why we never broke the OPEC cartel (cartels are illegal in the US). So if you want to support the Saudi's buy the biggest gas guzzler you can find and drive a lot. " How much of what the United States exports are arms to other nations? If you know please post the link.